The Limi (Li mi people, 俐侎人) are an ancient and mysterious ethnic group primarily located in Yongde County (永德县), Lincang City (临沧市), in Yunnan Province, China. They are a branch of the Yi (彝族) ethnic group and are known for their deep-rooted traditions and distinct culture. The Limi population is approximately 26,000 people, with most residing in Yongde County, although smaller communities can be found in other regions.

Ethnic History

The Limi people are believed to have migrated from the regions of Jinggu (景谷) and Jingdong (景东). Due to the damp environment in their habitat, they initially built their homes elevated, a practice that earned them the name “Li Di Ren” (离地人), meaning “people living above the ground”. Later, they were referred to as the Limi people. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Limi were categorized as a subgroup of the Yi ethnic group, with Yongde County being the primary area of their settlement. Additionally, there are small Limi communities in areas like Fengqing County (凤庆县) and Yun County (云县).

Beliefs and Religion

The Limi people hold a deep reverence for nature and believe in the spiritual presence in all living things. They see the world as having two interconnected realms, one physical and one spiritual, and the forces from the spiritual realm influence their daily lives and well-being. Various rituals and ceremonies express their devotion to maintaining harmony and happiness in life.

Ancestral Worship and Funeral Customs

The Limi practice ancestral worship and maintain altars to honor their ancestors. When an elder passes away, a wax effigy is made to represent the deceased, and it is placed on the altar to serve as a spiritual guide for their soul. Funeral rituals are led by a Duo Xi (朵希), a local priest or spiritual leader who chants prayers and leads the mourning process. Additionally, unmarried men who pass away are honored through a ghost marriage ceremony.

Agricultural and Spiritual Rituals

The Limi also perform agricultural rituals, particularly for the prosperity of crops. These include the 祭田公田母 (Sacrifice to the Earth and Grain Spirits), where the spirits of the land, the Tian Gong (田公) and Tian Mu (田母), are invoked to ensure good harvests. During these ceremonies, they offer sacrifices, such as chickens, rice, and other foods, and pray for the wellbeing of the land and future harvests.

Cultural Traditions

Traditional Festivals

The Limi celebrate their cultural festivals with great enthusiasm, with the Torch Festival (火把节) being one of their most important events. These rituals and festivities are designed to honor the natural world and to seek blessings for a fruitful and harmonious life.

Their distinctive customs, including the 祭田公田母 (Earth and Grain Ritual), involve intricate offerings and prayers to maintain a balanced relationship with nature. The Limi people’s practices reflect a deep connection to both their ancestors and the environment around them, ensuring that their traditions continue to be passed down through generations.

Food and Dress

The Limi people retain traditional foods and clothing that reflect their heritage. They have preserved the art of cooking with local ingredients and maintain distinct styles of dress, often characterized by their unique and colorful garments used in daily life and during festivals.

In conclusion, the Limi people are a small yet culturally rich ethnic group with a deep connection to nature, spirituality, and ancestral practices. Their traditions, including music, rituals, and customs, are integral to their way of life, preserving a unique identity in the modern world.

Limi Ethnic People: Music and Dance

The Limi (俐侎人) people are known for their rich cultural traditions, especially in the realm of music and dance. Upon entering a Limi village, visitors are immediately drawn to the vibrant atmosphere created by the mountain horn welcome ceremony, which is performed during weddings, funerals, festivals, and the reception of honored guests. This ceremony expresses the Limi people’s deep love for life and their warm welcome for guests.

Traditional Music and Dance

The Limi are a musical people, and singing and dancing are essential parts of their daily life. Traditional Limi music involves playing instruments such as the sheng (笙), flute, or string instruments, with the community dancing to the rhythm, creating an unmistakable “Tage” (打歌) style of music. The Limi use a variety of ethnic instruments, including the copper horn, suona (唢呐), lusheng (芦笙), and duokaduoli (多卡多利), to accompany their songs and dances.

In Limi culture, there are different types of Tage (singing and dancing) depending on the occasion. For joyous events like weddings, people gather to sing and dance, welcoming friends, family, and guests, expressing their hospitality. At funerals, the Tage reflects the solemnity of the occasion. The lyrics of the songs are deeply connected to the village’s way of life, with lines such as:

“The lusheng tunes begin, inviting guests to join us, old and young, distant friends and close ones. The elders sing, the youth dance, the Limi people pass down traditions from generation to generation.”

These songs, accompanied by synchronized dance steps, create an atmosphere of celebration and reverence, as if the Limi people are born to be artists, effortlessly blending natural beauty with cultural expressions.

“Sang Zhua Li” Festival: A Celebration of Love and Tradition

The Sang Zhua Li (桑沼哩) festival is one of the most significant traditional celebrations for the Limi people. Held on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month, this festival historically began as a communal gathering where young men and women would bathe at hot springs, sing love songs, and bond around a campfire. It was a time for matchmaking and socializing, where people would sing songs to express their affection and find potential partners.

In the past, elders also participated, rekindling old romances, with the understanding that they could not meet again until the following year. This festival was once officiated by the village “headman”, and over time it evolved into a more casual gathering involving trade and socializing. However, after the Sang Zhua Li festival was suspended in 1958 due to historical events, it was revived in 1983, and since then, the Limi people have continued to hold the festival annually, moving its location to Bang Mai Tian Ba (帮卖天坝) in 2001. The festival still retains its cultural significance and traditional customs.

Festival Atmosphere

On the day of the Sang Zhua Li festival, visitors entering the village are greeted by the clear, melodious sound of songs that fill the air. The village is decorated with festive banners made from lush pine branches, emitting a refreshing fragrance. The joyous atmosphere is further enhanced by the vibrant energy of the Limi youth, who sing love songs to express their affection for one another. The music reverberates through the mountains and valleys, creating an enchanting experience.

In the evening, a bonfire burns brightly as people gather to sing and dance, their laughter blending with the crackling of the fire. The graceful movements of the young women, adorned in colorful dresses, are a sight to behold, while young men dance with burning torches, seeking to connect with their beloved in a shared moment of joy.

The Limi youth, often dressed in traditional black headscarves and sheepskin jackets, play their sanxian (三弦) instruments while weaving through the crowd, creating a festive and romantic atmosphere. The sparkling lights from the fire reflect in the eyes of the dancers, and the melodies of their songs carry through the air like a gentle breeze.

Love and Simplicity

The Limi people’s expression of love through song and dance evokes a simple yet profound connection between nature, culture, and emotion. Their celebrations are a reminder of the timeless bond between people and the land they inhabit, where love and joy transcend the boundaries of time and place. In these moments, the Limi people invite you to share in their happiness and immerse yourself in the beauty of their traditions.

Traditional Clothing Craftsmanship

The Limi (俐侎人) people still preserve the ancient tradition of handmade clothing, with garments that are woven, dyed, and sewn by the people themselves. Particularly distinctive is their bridal dowry, which is primarily in black, representing simplicity and ancient beauty. This color scheme is like a mysterious veil, filled with fantasies and enigmatic charm.

As you enter a Limi (俐侎人) village, you’ll immediately notice the Limi women standing out in their traditional attire. Besides being hardworking, responsible, kind, gentle, modest, and generous, they often have blue-black stains on their hands—an indication of their labor and wisdom, left from the process of making their garments.

From the age of 7 or 8, Limi girls begin learning to spin thread and weave fabric. Almost every household has women skilled in this craft, and it’s an essential part of their life. The process of making clothing involves eight key steps:

1. Cotton purchased from the market is first carded and cleaned, then spun on a homemade spinning wheel.

2. The spun cotton thread is boiled with corn sand in a large pot for several hours and then dried.

3. The thread is spun again into balls.

4. The thread is arranged on a weaving loom, where it is woven into fabric—either plain or with a checkered pattern, using black and white threads.

5. Special Limi (俐侎) clothing, such as headscarves for women, is created using these methods.

6. The fabric is dyed using traditional methods, including using quicklime and alcohol to create dots on the fabric, adding unique decorative elements.

Traditional Cuisine

Lamb and Tea: The Essence of Limi Cuisine

The Limi (俐侎) people have a deep connection to lamb, viewing it as a symbol of their resilience and indomitable spirit. Limi roasted whole lamb (俐侎烤全羊) is a staple dish in their cuisine, particularly during festivals and special occasions. When important guests arrive or during holidays, the village hosts a feast featuring the Limi roasted whole lamb (俐侎烤全羊). The headman of the village will first sample a small piece from the head, body, and tail of the lamb, before the rest of the guests are invited to eat.

Tea also plays an important role in Limi (俐侎) culture, with a unique tradition surrounding it. Every spring, the Limi (俐侎) people perform a ritual under their tea trees—a practice that has lasted for hundreds or even thousands of years. Their tea-making process uses local materials, with bamboo tubes (竹筒) made from fragrant bamboo to roast the tea. This method infuses the tea with a pleasant bamboo fragrance while preserving its natural aroma.

Limi Bamboo Tube Thunder Tea

The Limi bamboo tube thunder tea (俐侎人竹筒雷响茶) is well-known and involves eight key steps:

1. Warm water

2. Breaking the bamboo tube

3. Preparing the tea

4. Washing the utensils

5. Making the tea thunder

6. Crossing the bitter stage

7. Serving the tea

8. Collecting the utensils

During the brewing process, Limi tea is prepared in bamboo tubes (竹筒), with leaves harvested from the Limi (俐侎) mountain’s large-leaf tea plants, which are rich in amino acids, vitamins, and other beneficial compounds. The tea is brewed with snow mountain spring water (雪山清泉), creating a pure and refreshing taste that invigorates the mind and body.

The Limi (俐侎) people once lived in remote, sparsely populated areas, where wild animals were common. To ensure their safety, the tribe’s leader came up with a method to protect the villagers during tea preparation: they would repeatedly strike the bamboo tubes with sticks. Not only would this help stir the tea, but the sharp sound of the bamboo would also deter wild animals from approaching. Over time, this practice became a signal to the community that tea was being brewed, and villagers would know to gather for a cup of tea whenever they heard the sound.